`Reformer' tag a real feat of Claypool

In every election, a politician jumps on a white horse to smite the forces of evil. This year, the white knight is Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool or, Sir Forrest of Claypool, if you prefer.

According to some media bards, Sir Forrest is the progressive crusader in combat with Cook County Board President John Stroger for the board presidency.

Stroger has been cast, accurately, as a Democratic Party political hack. Though he's wise and cunning and loyal to his legion of patronage workers, don't think I'm endorsing Stroger. He's no angel.

But what's annoying is that Sir Forrest acts like some Galahad prancing toward Election Day, with his minstrels skipping along behind him, clapping coconuts together for the galloping-horse sound effects a la "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

So let's put down the coconuts for a moment to consider Claypool's reform credentials:

He's backed by a top fundraiser, U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Tomczak). Emanuel was made by Mayor Richard Daley and elected by Daley's patronage armies, including the army captained by convicted city water department boss Don Tomczak.

Claypool's reformist armor is being burnished by consultant David Axelrod, a longtime Daley mouthpiece. As Axelrod polishes Claypool, he ridicules U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald's investigations of the Daley administration. "He goes after fleas and elephants with the same bazooka," Axelrod said in a recent issue of Vanity Fair. "At some point there's a line--I don't know where it is exactly--where you begin criminalizing politics in its most innocent form."

Innocent? I don't know if that's the word. But I do know that Emanuel and Axelrod would never back Claypool unless Daley gave them the OK.

On Wednesday, I asked the mayor if Claypool is a reformer.

"He worked very hard as [Daley's] chief of staff," Daley said. "He worked very hard at the Park District. I am supporting John Stroger. I am not negative about anyone."

Mayor, is Claypool a reformer?

"That would be up to him. I mean, everybody is a reformer," Daley said, on tape. "I think everybody is a reformer. I mean everybody is. Regardless of every life, you reform, you change. Some people don't drink anymore. Some do. Some smoke. Some don't smoke. We are all reformers. Everybody is a reformer."

What this means is that either way, Claypool or Stroger, the mayor wins.

On Wednesday, Claypool offered an amendment to a county ethics ordinance, banning officials from accepting contributions from county employees. Since Claypool is getting his help from rich white liberals, and $10,000 from the famously reform-minded Ald. Dick Mell (33rd), he doesn't need county payrollers. Stroger does.

"As we know from the George Ryan trial, we know the tragedy caused when government employees are pressured to contribute to the political campaigns of their employers!" Claypool intoned.

Claypool recited a litany of other political scandals in county and state government. "We need to give the public the assurance that these people are hired on their merit, not because of political contributions to their elected bosses!" he urged.

The amendment failed, but that's not news. The news is that Claypool talked reform without once mentioning any City Hall scandals.

He was chief of staff for Daley when the politically connected paving deals starting rolling that would enrich the mayor's buddies, and when the politically connected towing company EAR Inc. started yanking cars off the street.

And when Claypool ran the Chicago Park District, he spent millions of dollars on fencing provided by the politically connected wrought-iron fence company G.F. Structures Inc., which bought its insurance from Cook County Commissioner John Daley.

These deals festered with the same kind of cronyism that Sir Forrest now decries in the Stroger administration.

I don't think Claypool could have stopped those deals back then. But now that he's a reform candidate, Claypool won't dare speak the words "Daley" and "scandal" in the same sentence.

Two years ago, we asked Claypool if he thought John Daley should release his financials on insurance he sold to 11th Ward trucking companies embroiled in the City Hall Hired Truck scandal.

Claypool said John Daley's business wasn't any of his business.

"No," said Claypool. "What's the county angle? If these were county trucks, that'd be different. I'm a county commissioner, and I've got my hands full dealing with the county's problems. I'm not trying to solve the city's problems."

Do you think John Daley should release his financials on the Hired Truck program?

"I think I've said everything I want to say on the record. That should give you enough to work with," Claypool said.